The Roosevelts: An Intimate History, Ken Burns’s seven-part documentary film about the lives of Theodore, Franklin, and Eleanor Roosevelt, recently premiered on PBS (visit the website for video excerpts, a photo gallery, and related lesson plans). Whether viewed in the classroom or at home, this fascinating look at three members of perhaps the most influential family in American politics is sure to generate interest among young readers. Ranging from picture-book accounts to more in-depth biographies, the books featured here will both inform and inspire.
Teddy
The Camping Trip that Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Pakrs. by Barb Rosenstock. illus. by Mordicai Gerstein. Dial. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780803737105.
Gr 1-4–In 1903, President Roosevelt read a book by Muir that called upon the government to save America’s disappearing forests, and asked the respected naturalist to take him camping in California’s Yosemite wilderness. This fictional account of the resulting trip describes how Teedie and Johnnie visit giant sequoias and breathtaking vistas, share stories underneath the stars, and “[imagine] a different future for America,” one that includes millions of acres of protected lands. Captivating text and stunning color-saturated illustrations portray two commanding individuals while underscoring the grandeur of the scenery and historical impact of their meeting.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. by David A. Adler. Holiday House. 2014. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9780823429509.
Gr 5-8–Adler introduces a gutsy individual with an “outsized personality” who was “sometimes controversial, often loved, and never dull.” The engrossing narrative seamlessly integrates primary quotes, interesting anecdotes, and historical events to depict Roosevelt as family man, politician, reformer, and adventurer extraordinaire. Enhanced throughout with black-and-white period photographs, political cartoons, and other images, this well-researched, evenhanded, and readable account introduces a president who “ably led the nation through turbulent times.”
Teedie: The Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt. by Don Brown. illus. by author. Houghton Mifflin. 2009. Tr $16. ISBN 9780618179992.
Gr 2-5–Introducing a 10-year-old who was timid, scrawny, and tormented by asthma attacks, Brown tells the story of how this “undersize boy” grew up to be a “larger-than-life man.” Lively text sprinkled with quotes and often-waggish watercolors relate significant childhood incidents as Teedie intently examines a dead seal found lying in a New York City street; resignedly faces the “drudgery” of lifting weights and rowing to build his frail form; or takes up boxing after an encounter with bullies. Roosevelt’s perseverance, intelligence, and down-to-earth essence shine throughout this engaging tale.
To Dare Mighty Things: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt. by Doreen Rappaport. illus. by C. F. Payne. Disney/Hyperion. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781423124887.
Gr 2-6–Rappaport’s stirring title, excerpted from one of Roosevelt’s speeches, sets the tone for a picture-book biography that deftly pairs well-chosen primary quotes with eloquent narrative. Chronological spreads touch upon the highpoints of Teddy’s personal and political life, painting a vivid portrait of his irrepressible personality, can-do attitude, and heartfelt passions. Whether depicting majestic landscapes or relaxed at-home moments, C. F. Payne’s gorgeous paintings are as grand as their subject matter. A compelling and elucidating introduction to an American icon.
What to Do about Alice? How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove her Father Teddy Crazy! by Barbara Kerley. illus. by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780439922319.
Gr 2-5–What could be harder than herding cattle across the Dakota badlands, leading the Rough Riders in a battle charge up Kettle Hill, or facing down a grizzly? Raising a high-spirited daughter, of course! Teddy’s unconventional, unruly, and irrepressible first-born is brought to life as she greets White House visitors with pet snake in hand, jumps into a swimming pool fully clothed, grabs both hearts and headlines, and proves her proclivity for “eating up the world.” The ebullient fact-filled text and bold and blithesome artwork suit the unforgettable Alice to a tee.
FDR
A Boy Named FDR: How Franklin D. Roosevelt Grew Up to Change America. by Kathleen Krull. illus. by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher. Knopf. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780375857164; ebook $10.99. ISBN 9780307982520.
Gr 3-5–How did Roosevelt, “the ultimate rich kid,” become a president who “did so much for ordinary people in America?” From pampered and privileged boyhood to his post-polio reentry into politics, smooth-flowing, quote-filled narrative and warm-hued oil paintings highlight influential moments, revealing how FDR was groomed “to feel responsibility for others” by both parents and teachers, met various challenges with courage and perseverance, and found inspiration in his cousin Teddy and wife Eleanor. A summary of his presidency, time line, and excerpts from famous speeches are appended.
Franklin and Winston: A Christmas that Changed the World. by Douglas Wood. illus. by Barry Moser. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763633837.
Gr 4-6–This is a riveting account of the 1941 White House summit between America’s 32nd president and British Prime Minister Churchill, a pivotal meeting that forged an alliance and determined the course of World War II. The narrative incorporates quotes from public speeches and private moments to relate historic events and reveal a burgeoning friendship. Handsome full-page paintings shimmer with vitality to set the scene and bring both men to life.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt. by Russell Freedman. Clarion. 1992. pap. $10.95. ISBN 9780395629789.
Gr 5-8–Spanning from the Great Depression to World War II, Roosevelt’s presidency occurred during turbulent times, and Freedman steers readers through complex historical happenings, social movements, and contemporary trends with lucid and readable text. Packed with primary quotes, the narrative objectively examines accomplishments and controversies in both FDR’s public and personal lives, while memorable anecdotes, commentary from contemporaries, and a wealth of black-and-white photos reveal the man beneath the exterior.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt for Kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities. by Richard Panchyk. Chicago Review Pr. 2007. pap. $14.95. ISBN 9781556526572.
Gr 4-8–Well-written and accessible, this biography is presented in an invitingly open format with clearly subtitled sections and an array of period photographs, documents, and political ephemera. Panchyk interviewed people who knew FDR personally, and their insightful first-person remembrances appear in boxed entries throughout the text. This useful resource also includes content-expanding activities appropriate to both classrooms and households such as charting genealogy, designing a war bond poster, or staging a political debate.
Eleanor
Eleanor. by Barbara Cooney. illus. by author. Puffin. 1999. pap. $6.99. ISBN 9780140555837.
Gr 1-4–Cooney’s concise text and period-evoking paintings shed light on Eleanor’s privileged but pain-filled childhood and touch upon events shaped the remarkable woman she would become. Daughter of a mother who considered her “a disappointment” and an affectionate but unpredictable father, the plain, serious-minded little girl was orphaned at age nine, and languished in her grandmother’s gloomy household. Placed under the guidance of an inspiring headmistress at her British boarding school, she finally began “to think for herself, to ask questions, to be passionately committed to life and the lives of others.” A heart-stirring story about overcoming challenges and finding one’s place in the world.
Eleanor, Quiet No More: The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt. by Doreen Rappaport. illus. by Gary Kelley. Disney/Hyperion. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780786851416.
Gr 3-8–“Do something every day that scares you.” In this picture-book biography, Rappaport pairs clarion quotes from her subject with spare and lyrical text to render an affecting and informative portrait of the First Lady of the World. Beginning with Eleanor’s loveless childhood and proceeding through her education, marriage, and career as politician and humanitarian, handsomely illustrated spreads not only present chronological events, but also convey her growing self-confidence as she fights for her convictions and finds her voice.
Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s Remarkable Life. by Candace Fleming. Atheneum. 2005. $24.99. ISBN 9780689865442.
Gr 4-8–Insightful, intimate, and impossible to put down, this outstanding biography paints a compelling picture of “an extraordinary woman who devoted her life to making the world a more just, more tolerant, more understanding place.” Fleming weaves well-researched primary quotes and accounts into a mainly chronological narrative that touches upon Roosevelt’s fortes and flaws, accomplishments and controversies. Extensive sidebars and an abundance of period photos and reproductions enrich the telling and allow the author to tease out the important “motifs of Eleanor’s life.”